The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
between him and his wits.[FN#45] Then they bound it and Kaylajan bore
it on his shoulders and Kurajan took what he could carry. And Mura’ash
embraced Gharib and wept for parting from him, saying, “O my brother,
if aught befal thee wherein thou art powerless, send for me and I will
come to thine aid with an army able to lay waste the whole earth and
what is thereon.” Gharib thanked him for his kindness and zeal for the
True Faith and took leave of him; whereupon the Marids set out with
Gharib and his goods; and, after traversing fifty years’ journey in two
days and a night, alighted near the city of Oman and halted to take
rest. Then Gharib sent out Kaylajan, to learn news of his people, and
he returned and said, “O King, the city is beleaguered by a host of
Infidels, as they were the surging sea, and thy people are fighting
them. The drums beat to battle and Jamrkan goeth forth as champion in
the field.” When Gharib heard this, he cried aloud, “God is Most
Great!” and said to Kaylajan, “Saddle me the steed and bring me my arms
and spear; for to-day the valiant shall be known from the coward in the
place of war and battle-stead.” So Kaylajan brought him all he sought
and Gharib armed and belting in baldrick Al-Mahik, mounted the sea
horse and made toward the hosts. Quoth Kaylajan and Kurajan to him, “Set
thy heart at rest and let us go to the Kafirs and scatter them abroad
in the wastes and wilds till, by the help of Allah, the All-powerful,
we leave not a soul alive, no, not a blower of the fire.” But Gharib
said “By the virtue of Abraham the Friend, I will not let you fight
them without me and behold, I mount!” Now the cause of the coming of
that great host was right marvellous.[FN#46]——And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Six Hundred and Sixtieth Night,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account